VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds are all set to re-ignite their fiercest rivalry as they visit the University of Victoria Vikes for the first time this season in the first leg of the coveted Wightman Boot on Saturday, October 15^th at 2:30 p.m. at Wallace Field in Victoria.
 
The T-Birds go in focused with redemption top of mind after missing the opportunity to hoist the Boot trophy for a 10^th consecutive season in the fall of 2022. The Vikes were able to wrestle the cup away from UBC's strangle hold over the previous nine years by the slimmest of margins, in securing just a two-point edge in the total points differential over the two-game series. Last season, UVic upset the 'Birds in the opening game at UBC by a score of 30-14 before the T-Birds responded two weeks later with a 40-26 win in Victoria, however the margin of victory for the 'Birds in the rematch just fell short as the Vikes enjoyed the two-game total score advantage of 56-54.


 
"The first game is the important one," said UBC's first-year head coach Didier Banse. "It sets the tone for this two-match series. There's a rich history when our teams clash, our guys always get up for these games and I'm sure it's the same with UVIC. Recapturing the trophy for the 10th time in the last 11 years isn't just a statistic for us; it's about upholding a standard set by those before us and that, is winning."
 
Once again it won't take long to crown this year's winner with the second-leg of the home and home series just two weeks away at the Gerald McGavin UBC Rugby Centre on Saturday, October 28^th.
 
Not much separates this weekend's combatants on the surface as the No. 1 ranked T-Birds and No. 2 ranked U Vic Vikes each enter the meeting with a 2-2 record on the young BC Premier League season. UBC is feeling in rhythm coming off a decisive 66-12 road win over the Trinity Western Spartans last Saturday while UVic is also feeling good and somewhat rested coming off a victory over those same Spartans two weeks ago in their last outing on home field.


 
"I know they are a young squad, but watching them play in the coastal cup its clear to me they have their systems sorted," added Banse, when asked what he knows about and expects from this year's version of the Vikes. "This is a big game for them at home. They will be hungry, it's going to be physical and fast, we can't wait."
 
Saturday's game also serves as a national qualifier for the upcoming 2023 Canadian University Men's Rugby Championship which will be hosted by Triinity Western University. The T-Birds are two-time defending champions and have won the title in four of the five year existence of the tournament.